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How to prevent self-criticism from sabotaging your content writing process

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Self-criticism sabotaging your content writing process

Self-criticism sabotaging your content writing process

Self-criticism isn’t just toxic, sometimes it can be devastating.

Different toppings and subtopics discussed in this blog:

Do you want to become a successful content writer?

Unconsciously, self-criticism might be one of the biggest roadblocks that you don’t even know you face.

It creeps up on you slowly and gnaws at your content writing process unbeknownst to you.

You think that other content writers are better than you?

You are unable to negotiate prices because you begin to believe you don’t deserve to be paid much.

You assume you don’t understand the topic.

You worry that you won’t be able to meet the deadline.

I have written professional content for more than 17 years.

Even now, whenever I am about to begin a new content writing project, I’m filled with self-doubt and besieged by a wave of self-criticism.

Whenever I receive a new query, I wonder whether I will be able to deliver what the client needs.

I suffer from the imposter syndrome.

The inner voice tells me: you are not good.

You are deceiving your client.

You are pretending to be a good content writer.

Though, over the years, I have developed some techniques to beat the demons of self-criticism.

Why does self-criticism raise its head when writing content?

Self-criticism is natural.

It is good in small, manageable doses.

It keeps you on your toes.

It pushes you to improve and better yourself.

Hence, a little of it doesn’t harm you much and in fact, does you good.

In fact, I often come across content writers who definitely need some self-criticism.

Their writing is really bad.

Still, they act as if they are writing for the New York Times on a regular basis.

Even that level of confidence can be toxic.

Self-criticism on the other hand exists in the form of wanting to better yourself.

At a fundamental level I know I write better than many people.

I write good sentences.

I am confident of my writing style.

I can express any complicated idea simply.

My self-criticism originates from the fact that I may not have enough information to write what I’m supposed to write.

I may not have the appropriate vocabulary to work on a specific project.

I’m not good enough to get published in reputed publications.

My self-doubt doesn’t originate from the inability to express myself.

In different people, different types of self-doubt and self-criticism exist.

The problem with content writers is that they need to get paid for their writing per document or per assignment.

The client is instantly going to judge how the content writer has written.

There is always a fear of rejection.

There is always a chance that the client may think that the writing is not worth paying for.

Most of the content writers are underpaid so there is always this financial insecurity looming large at the horizon.

Gradually, self-criticism attains such a proportion that it begins to sabotage your entire content writing process.

Content writing and confidence go hand-in-hand

Remember that when you are writing content, you are writing for businesses and individuals who are running businesses.

Your content writing must instill confidence among your readers.

If your content writing lacks confidence, it will show through your words and sentences.

You will sound stiff and unsure.

You will convey the same feeling to your readers.

Your words have a magical way of communicating your true feelings.

Hence, to write with conviction, you must build your confidence.

Confidence comes with knowledge.

It comes with experience.

It comes with a core set of beliefs within you.

The best way to build your confidence as a writer is to write.

Write when you get work.

Write even when you don’t have paid assignments.

If you write only when you are paid, your writing becomes stilted.

Think like any other performing art.

Does a singer sing only when he or she is performing in front of an audience?

No.

He or she practices every day.

Do athletes perform athletic fetes only during sporting events?

No.

They practice for hours every day.

Practice writing every day.

In fact, write for 2-3 hours every day, whether you have professional content writing assignments or not.

Techniques for subduing self-criticism as a content writer

As I have written above, little bit of self-criticism can be used constructively.

It prompts you to excel.

It encourages you to better yourself.

But lots of self-criticism can be harmful.

When it stops you from writing, when it begins to meddle with your content writing process, you need to take some measures to control it.

Here are a few things you can do:

Distinguish between being critical and being self-critical

Sometimes we are critical of ourselves.

This is different from being critical about your work.

You certainly need to review your work.

Sometimes I revise documents multiple times.

I edit sentences.

I change words.

Complete rewrites are needed sometimes.

This shouldn’t be confused with self-criticism.

Even writers who have sold millions of books have editors.

Their books are revised multiple times.

So, each time you find an error, or you need to revise a sentence, don’t self-criticise yourself.

This is integral part of content writing.

Acquire knowledge of content writing

As I have written above, knowledge is empowering.

The more you know, the better you write.

Read books on content writing and copywriting.

Join LinkedIn forums on writing, content writing and copywriting.

Interact with other content writers and copywriters.

Follow blogs on the same topics.

Learn the latest about SEO copywriting.

I’m working with multiple writers these days.

Many writers write like content writers who used to write 10-15 years ago.

They haven’t updated their styles.

They haven’t upgraded their language skills.

Although they write well, they can do much better if they keep an eye on the latest trends in content writing and online copywriting.

Never shy away from learning and acquiring knowledge.

People in every profession are constantly learning.

The same is true in the field of content writing.

Start a personal blog

Starting a personal blog means updating it, not if every day, but at least a couple of times in a week.

I have found that blogging is one of the best ways to beat self-criticism.

Choose a topic that is close to your heart.

It doesn’t have to be a professional topic.

This is my blog on content writing and copywriting, but I also have a personal blog where I share my passion on books, religion, politics, and other topics.

On a personal blog I can write in whichever manner I feel like.

Even if people judge me, I don’t really care because my livelihood does not depend on my personal blog.

I get to express myself.

I get to practice my art of writing.

I have a small fan following that raises my confidence.

I get to build my own writing style.

But, it requires work.

You need to update your personal blog on regular basis.

Don’t constantly compare yourself with other content writers

Comparing yourself with other content writers can be positive or negative.

When you compare to learn, it is positive.

When you compare to discourage yourself, it is negative.

It is fine if another content writer writes better than you.

It is fine if his or her range of vocabulary is vast.

It is all about learning.

It is all about regularly practising your art.

It is all about acquiring knowledge.

If that particular content writer can write so well, so can you.

You are not there yet, but soon you will be.

You are already writing.

You have already reached a certain level.

Now you need to improve.

As you gain more experience, your writing will improve.

It has improved till now, it will improve further.

Learn to do research

A lot of times you are hit by a deluge of self-criticism when you cannot find the right information that you need to write content.

For every content writing project you need to research.

You need to find information.

Google may be your best friend.

It has advanced search features that can help you filter out unnecessary information.

You may need to use different queries to find exactly the information you are looking.

Sometimes, a seemingly impossible topic becomes crystal clear once you have done some research.

Also develop a system of storing information when you’re researching so that the next time when you need to find the same data, you already have it.

I use note-taking apps like OneNote and Google Keep to preserve important bits of information.

Work with a mentor

These days I’m working with around 15 content writers and I am mentoring some of them.

It is not like teaching.

A mentor can help you fine tune your writing without being extra critical.

An experienced person becomes your mentor only when he or she thinks you have the ability to excel.

This in itself is an endorsement and proves that you are capable of becoming a successful content writer.

Interact with experienced content writers on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Regularly engage with them.

Respond to their updates.

Ask them if you could work for them.

Then once you have been working with an experienced content writer, politely ask if you can seek some guidance.

Revisit examples of exceptional writing that you have done

Even those content writers who have been working for a few years suffer from bouts of self-criticism.

I have been preserving the testimonials that my clients have sent me.

Sometimes a client recommends my work and CCs me the email.

Sometimes he or she sends me high praises.

I save such messages separately.

I go through them when I’m self-doubting myself.

I have worked on some very difficult content writing assignments, but I forget about them when I’m going through self-criticism.

I have created a separate folder where I have saved all the challenging content writing assignments, I have worked all these years.

After opening the document, I start reading and soon, I experience self-criticism melting away.

Self-criticism is a state of mind.

A state of mind can be quickly altered.

You just need to hack your way out.

One step at a time.

Don’t be impatient with yourself.

Accept the problem, and then work towards a solution.

Recognize different aspects of your writing abilities that need improvement.

Then improve, one writing ability by one.

Making your content writing inclusive: step-by-step guide

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Inclusive content writing

Inclusive content writing

What is inclusive content writing?

It means using a language that respects human diversity.

Inclusive content writing is sensitive towards

  • People with disabilities.
  • Members of the LGBTQ community.
  • People of different ages.
  • Minorities
  • People of different socio-economic status.
  • Different religious groups.
  • Marginalised communities.

Main points covered in this blog post

You can use inclusive writing practices to write

  • Email campaigns
  • Blog posts
  • Informational articles
  • Social media posts
  • Web pages
  • Landing pages
  • White papers
  • Case studies

And every other material you use for business communications.

Here is a Conscious style guide that can help you make your writing more inclusive.

You may get customers and clients of different ages, colours, unconventional genders, ethnicities, language backgrounds, cultures and sexual orientations.

Inclusion also means being sensitive towards diverse physical abilities, mental abilities, and regional and socio-economic backgrounds.

Through your writing you can make sure that no one feels excluded.

Yes, I can understand that suddenly handling so much diversity may seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be.

You can also view this inclusive writing guideline from the University of Idaho that explains good writing for the following categories:

  • Abilities/disabilities
  • Gender and sexual identity
  • The race, ethnicity, national identity, and religion
  • Indigenous people

Why incorporate inclusion in your content writing?

It is the right thing to do.

We live in a multidimensional world.

Fortunately, these days we also live in a world that is much more accepting than it was even 15 years ago.

People should be able to live the way they want to live (as long as they are not harming someone by their actions and tendencies).

They shouldn’t feel excluded.

They shouldn’t be marginalised just because they have different physical abilities, or they come from a different background or race.

When they read your content, they shouldn’t feel that their beliefs are being questioned or stereotypes against them are being reaffirmed.

Hence, it is your social and ethical responsibility to incorporate inclusion in your content writing.

It is not that you don’t want to make your writing inclusive.

In many cases exclusion is not a conscious decision.

There is a concept called “implicit bias” that refers to “the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.”

The above link says that you can act on the basis of prejudice and stereotypes even without intending to do so.

We store all our biases and stereotypes in the subconscious.

It is in our subconscious where 98% of our thinking happens.

Our subconscious helps us take automatic decisions.

What are the benefits of making your content writing inclusive?

Inclusive content writing helps you portray your brand as a forward-thinking entity.

It improves your relationship with your customers and clients.

It appeals to a broader audience.

Happier customers main more sales.

According to a Zendesk study, 54% respondents said that they prefer to do business with companies that prioritize diversity and inclusion.

Zendesk survey screenshot

A Microsoft Advertising research found that 64% people are more trusting of brands that represent diversity in their ads.

69% admitted that brands that represent diversity seem more authentic.

Microsoft study screenshot

People with diverse backgrounds have immense buying power these days.

Irrespective of ethnicities, sexual orientations and physical and mental abilities, billions of people are doing online shopping.

We live in a globally connected world.

People in different parts of the world can easily, individually, talk about your business.

They can form opinions.

They can demolish reputations.

They can be unimaginatively loyal.

By making your content writing inclusive to become a part of a global community.

You don’t want to miss out on this massive opportunity just because you’re not careful about your language.

With just a single expression you can alienate a big chunk of your market.

Once people move away from business, especially due to a negative experience, it is very difficult to bring them back.

How to make your content writing inclusive?

This is how Salesforce defines inclusive marketing (and inclusive content):

We define inclusive marketing as creating content that truly reflects the diverse communities that our companies serve. It means that we are elevating diverse voices and role models, decreasing cultural bias, and leading positive social change through thoughtful and respectful content.

What is inclusive language?

According to Wikipedia, inclusive language encourages you to avoid expressions that can be deemed as sexist, racist, prejudiced, biased, or denigrating to a particular ethnicity or a group of people.

Here is how Hubspot defines inclusive language:

Inclusive language is the words and phrases you use that avoid biases, slang, and expressions that discriminate against groups of people based on race, gender, socio-economic status, and ability.

It is advised that you don’t identify someone’s race, gender, orientation, ethnicity, or disability status unless it is specifically needed to make a point.

Step-by-step guide to making your content writing inclusive.

Make your writing gender neutral

Unless you are specifically talking about a male or a female, avoid expressions that exclusively cater to a particular gender.

Instead of “chairman”, use “chairperson”.

Instead of “mankind”, use “humans”.

Instead of he or she, you can use they.

The world is fast becoming inclusive.

People used terms like “policeman”, “fireman” or “businessman” because these were, once upon a time, exclusive domains of men.

Now people of varying genders are in all professions.

You can’t possibly include every gender in your writing expressions, so it better be gender neutral.

Stop using ableist vocabulary

In your writing, avoid using expressions like “crazy”, “crippled”, “lame”, “dumb” and “stupid” (just a few examples).

Knowingly or unknowingly, such words can be used to stigmatize, dehumanize, and institutionalise people with physical and mental disabilities, according to Harvard Business Review.

Make your writing accessible

Accessible writing has two meanings:

  1. Text readers should be easily able to read what you have written.
  2. People of varying reading abilities should be able to understand what you are writing.

How do you achieve that?

  • Write short sentences.
  • Use professional but simple words.
  • Avoid industry jargon.
  • Avoid using abbreviations that are difficult to interpret.
  • Use bullet points to break down important pieces of information.
  • Writing in active voice.
  • Cut out unwanted information.
  • Keep your paragraphs short.
  • Use lots of subheadings to make it easier to skim through your content.

If you want you can use an app like Hemingway.

It analyzes your writing and tells you if your sentences are too difficult or too long.

It highlights complex sentences.

Hemingway app screenshot

It uses color coding to highlight portions that are difficult to read, using too many adjectives and adverbs, using passive voice, and may have simpler alternative words that sound better.

It makes suggestions so that you can keep your readability around Grade 6, which is easier to understand and yet, not oversimplistic.

Design a style guide

If you work with multiple content writers, it can become a hassle to pay for every writer regarding inclusive writing.

Instead, you can design a downloadable style guide containing step-by-step instructions on how to incorporate inclusion when writing.

Here is an inclusive writing style guide from Google.

At many places it is also called “diversity style guide”.

Inclusive content writing is more than being politically correct.

It shows you respect individual differences.

You show respectability towards cultures, gender orientation, ethnicity, and regions.

It shows your commitment to socially conscious practices.

By putting in an effort to make your writing inclusive, you show your willingness to include the greatest number of people when you communicate.

10 tips to make your boring content writing interesting

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How to make your boring content writing interesting

How to make your boring content writing interesting

Do you feel your content writing is making people fall asleep?

These pieces of advice can turn your boring content writing into an interesting piece of content:

  1. Tell a story
  2. Write a compelling headline
  3. Get to the point as fast as possible
  4. Make your writing easier to scan
  5. Use small and simple sentences with lots of white spacing
  6. Hook your readers with a captivating introduction
  7. Experiment with short form content
  8. Use active voice
  9. Write in the language of your readers
  10. Avoid redundant phrases and expressions

For your content to be interesting and persuasive, it should brim with excitement and fervor.

No matter how informative and well-researched your article or blog post is, if people are not enthused, if they are bored, they leave after reading a few lines.

I agree that boring and interesting are subjective.

In a study conducted by Digital Marketing Community, 98% of the respondents who were surveyed said that written content is the most used type of content in the marketing industry.

Yet, one in three marketers admitted that the content is not effective.

It means there is lots of content out there that is boring and uninspiring.

Very little interesting content writing.

Some content writing that may seem boring to one reader may seem quite interesting to another.

Maybe some people are just interested in hard facts and useful information.

It doesn’t matter how that information is presented.

Nonetheless, as a professional content writer, it is your job to make your writing engaging and interesting to cater to a wider audience.

Here are a few things you can do to make your seemingly boring content writing interesting.

1. Tell a story

Stories are always interesting.

A story brings in a human angle into your narrative.

Even when you tell stories about animals, we tell their stories as if they are humans – they talk like humans, they show emotions like humans, they behave like humans.

Yes, features are important, but along with telling the features of a TV, also tell how a new TV changes the viewing experience of a family that was getting disinterested in TV content.

Tell about Peter who was about to shut down his business and then how his business was saved with the help of an on-demand app.

Marketing and selling are all about emotion.

This Forbes article says that by telling a story, you can hit the emotional quotient.

The article further says that tell stories that are real, or at least tell stories that can evoke real emotions and feelings.

A story can instantly make your boring content writing interesting.

2. Write a compelling headline

If 100 people come to read your blog post or web page, 80 read just the headline and only the remaining 20 read the rest of your copy.

A headline makes people read the rest of your copy.

You need to get your headline right because your readers make their first impression about what you have written based on their perception of your headline.

If your headline does not move them, they will leave after reading just the headline.

Stay away from crafting fake headlines just to make them sound interesting.

Click bait may work for some publications, but for genuine businesses, “click-bait” headlines can be counterproductive.

Take care that your headline has the following qualities

  • It portrays the usefulness of your content.
  • It conveys urgency.
  • It is unique and stands out among the crowd.
  • It provides specific information – what you are delivering.

People at Buzzsumo analyzed the headlines of 100 million articles and drew some solid conclusions.

One of the conclusions is that the headline that has around 60-65 characters performs the best on not just search engines, but also on Facebook and Twitter.

I’m sure by headline they mean the meta title because that’s what is displayed on Google and social media websites when you post a link.

Your headline is the <h1> tagged caption that is actually displayed on your homepage with a big font.

The big-font caption can be as long as you feel like – just make sure it can be read in a single breath.

3. Get to the point as fast as possible

Many content writers, perhaps to create longer articles and blog posts, talk about everything but the main issue.

They will write 500-600 words before they come to the main agenda.

By that time people are bored.

Avoid long, rambling sentences.

Don’t fill up your article or blog post simply to write long form content.

Convey your main point in the first paragraph.

For example, if you are writing a blog post on 13 benefits of hiring a professional content writer, you don’t need to first explain who a content writer is and what a content writer does.

People who want to read about the benefits of hiring a professional content writer already know who a content writer is and what a content writer does.

I’m not saying that you should reduce your blog post to its bare bones, but the points that can be omitted, omit them.

4. Make your writing easier to scan

Divide different sections under subheadings.

Craft your subheadings in a manner that they tell the reader what is followed in the smaller text.

For example, in the subheading “Make your writing easier to scan”, you can easily make out what the topic is about and then after that, it is up to you whether you want to read the remaining text or not.

Aside from subheadings, convey smaller points in bullet points.

  • Bullet points are easier to read.
  • They provide your reader something quick to read.
  • They are easily scannable.
  • You don’t even need to write complete sentences.

You can also use block quotes to highlight portions you don’t want your readers to mess.

5. Use small and simple sentences with lots of white spacing

As you can see in this blog post, every sentence has its own line or its own paragraph.

No line has more than one sentences.

This makes the blog post easier to read.

Long paragraphs having multiple sentences can be difficult to read and hence, after a while, they bore the reader.

Small sentences, of single lines, keep the readers interested.

Even if your content writing is not as interesting as you would like it to be, just because it is easier to read, people read.

6. Hook your readers with a captivating introduction

You may like to read: What is blog post introduction and how to write a great one?

After your headline, it is the first few lines that are responsible for making your readers read further.

These first few lines are the introduction of your article or blog post.

57% of the page viewing time is spent above the fold, according to a Nielsen Norman Group study.

Above the fold means the portion of the web page you have just loaded, and you haven’t scrolled down yet.

Below the fold, only 17% people read, and only the most determined people go beyond that.

So, whatever important point you want to make, make it in the introduction.

There is another thing I have started doing recently.

If you have a look at this blog post 10 advantages of hiring a professional content writer for your business, you will notice that I cover all the main points in a bulleted list in the beginning.

I have done that even for this blog post.

This gives a bird’s eye view of the entire blog post and makes it easier for people to decide if they want to read further.

They immediately know what points I’m covering.

7. Experiment with short form content

Although most of the SEO experts and digital marketers advise you to focus more on long form content (at least 1500-2000 words), you can also experiment with short form content – around 400-500 words.

This way you can write on highly focused topics.

You don’t beat around the bush.

Your readers don’t get intimidated by a seemingly never-ending stream of text.

There is no danger of information overload.

Since for every topic you are writing a new blog post or a new web page, you never run out of topics.

Smaller articles and blog posts are also easier to read on mobile phones.

Also, if you don’t get to the point, people leave midway, missing the whole idea of why they came to your article or blog post in the first place.

8. Use active voice

Content writing using lots of passive voice expressions becomes boring.

Active voice on the other hand makes your content writing interesting.

No, I don’t mean that merely using active voice makes your writing interesting, it is just that, it is easier to read and hence, people don’t get tired, and consequently, don’t get bored.

For example, instead of writing This blog post has been written by Amrit you write, Amrit wrote this blog post.

Instead of writing The dog has been taken to the vet, you can write They have taken the dog to the vet.

Instead of writing The coding will be done by our team, you can write Our team will do the coding.

This is a small thing, but if there are too many passive voice sentences and expressions in your writing, unknowingly, people get disinterested in your writing.

They are unable to make any connection.

9. Write in the language of your readers

It is important to have your own voice and your own style of writing.

But every professional content writer writes in the language of his or her readers.

This makes your writing comfortable.

If you need to use your mind to understand multiple words and sentences, it will tire you out.

On the other hand, if your content writing is smooth and easily understandable, reading becomes fast, and faster reading is usually interesting.

Avoid getting carried away with your own vocabulary and jargon.

You are not writing to impress anyone.

The purpose of your content writing is to prompt customers and clients into buying something or acting upon your call-to-action.

In my many blog posts I have suggested my readers to use simple language when writing content, but simple doesn’t mean oversimplifying your language.

Read other blogs and websites.

Study queries submitted on Google about your niche.

Observe words in the Google Suggests section.

Talk to your client.

Read reviews about similar products and services left by their customers and clients.

This way you can get the hang of what language or what expressions they use while talking about particular products and services.

10. Avoid redundant phrases and expressions

Redundant phrases and expressions are groups of words that are needless and even when you remove them, the sentence remains the same and in fact, becomes better.

For your content writing to be interesting, people should be able to read fast.

The more words they need to read, the more boring your writing becomes.

For example, consider the sentence:

The purpose of this app is to provide you directions even without an Internet connection.

You can remove “The purpose of”, and you can also remove “is to provide” and then rewrite the sentence as

This app provides directions even without an Internet connection.

Another example:

This document has been prepared to provide you an outline of our methodology.

It can be written as

This document provides you an outline of our methodology.

Another small example:

His arrival was an unexpected surprise.

Isn’t surprise always unexpected?

Therefore, you can rewrite the sentence as

His arrival was a surprise.

Use as many unnecessary words and expressions as possible to make your writing crisp.

Even when you’re writing about a boring product or service where there is nothing to talk about but descriptions and features, the points mentioned above can help you write text that is easier and faster to read.

When people can read your content writing with ease, they don’t lose interest.

They don’t feel exhausted.

Since your text is easier to read, they are not forced to abandon midway.

 

James Patterson’s storytelling advice to hook readers

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Storytelling advice from James Patterson

Storytelling advice from James Patterson

James Patterson, according to this Forbes article, has sold more than 400 copies of his books.

Consequently, he knows a thing or two about storytelling.

Storytelling isn’t just important in books and stories, even marketing and advertising copiously use storytelling to hook the audience.

What is storytelling in content writing and copywriting?

Storytelling in content writing and copywriting means using a narrative to communicate a message instead of simply explaining the features and advantages of your products and services.

Storytelling helps your consumers understand why they should care about your proposition.

It is the story of customers and clients who have used your product and benefited from it.

It is a case study, but more conversational and interactive.

Something like,

Peter was quite frustrated with his current accounting software.

The situation was so bad that he was thinking of shutting down the business itself.

He was in a financial crunch.

Then he came across our cloud-based accounting software.

The benefit of storytelling is that people can immediately relate.

Reading stories is always more engaging than reading simple product descriptions and sales pitches.

How to hook your readers with storytelling

James Patterson, just like many other copywriters and storytellers, stresses on the importance of the first sentence.

The first sentence of your narrative is very important.

When you tell your story, it is your first sentence that hooks your reader.

He claims in one of the interviews that once he wrote his first sentence more than 40 times before finalizing on a sentence.

According to Stephen King,

An opening line (first sentence) should invite the reader to begin the story. It should say: Listen. Come in here. You want to know about this.

Even in the context of copywriting, the job of your headline is to encourage people to read your first sentence, and the job of the first sentence is to encourage people to read your second sentence

This goes on.

Hence, you can say that every sentence is important because every sentence prompts your reader to read the next sentence.

Don’t start your article or blog post with a long narrative.

In the first sentence itself, hook the reader.

A good approach is, immediately begin the story.

Make something happen.

Something like,

As Peter logged into our dashboard for the first time, a plethora of opportunities suddenly opened to him.

What were those opportunities?

What dashboard are we talking about?

Readers will be intrigued, and they will want to read further.

This isn’t meant to be a long post.

I just came across an interesting insight from James Patterson and felt like sharing it with my readers.

5 ways quality content affects your content marketing

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5 ways quality content affects your content marketing

5 ways quality content affects your content marketing

There is no denying the fact that quality content is the core building block of a well-established digital marketing strategy.

A compelling and well-structured content shares your brand story and ultimately helps in viewer conversion.

Besides imparting the necessary information, quality content is engaging that helps to grasp and retain the viewer’s attention.

It also triggers their inquisitiveness which makes them want to learn more about the topic.

Every digital marketer, as well as business experts, know the value of high-quality content.

Simply speaking, if you don’t put enough emphasis on generating quality content, no marketing strategies, no matter how good they are, will work.

What is high quality content?

Before divulging further into the ways quality content affects marketing, let us first understand what it exactly is.

Its common characteristics include informative, and helpful.

Quality content also helps to answer all the probable questions regarding the topic.

Moreover, it is unique and original and targets human readers and not search engines.

However, sometimes even the most talented writers commit errors that degrade the content quality.

For example, they make it complicated and therefore hard to understand.

Poor content is also unoriginal, irrelevant, monotonous and tries to manipulate the readers by sharing false information.

Thus, these need to be avoided at all costs.

5 ways quality content impacts marketing

Better conversions

The content you post on your page is one of the primary factors that influence conversions.

The information educates the reader about your brand and its services, a crucial step that determines their purchasing decision.

Besides this, the content also helps to establish a connection between the customer and the company.

This is especially important in the case of blogs as they have immense potential to attract traffic.

I recommend you use original graphics instead of stock photos in your content as the former is more effective due to its uniqueness.

Moreover, please make sure to guide readers on the next step they should take and always include a Call To Action (CTA) button.

Earn customer trust

As already stated above, one of the most common characteristics of quality content is its value and helpfulness.

If readers derive both of these things from your content, they are more likely to put their trust in your brand.

In recent times, buyers have become more cautious, and they do not like to read pretentious content that tries to oversell.

They want to make their own decisions.

Informational and quality content allows them to take their own time to make educated decisions and purchase your company’s services or products.

There is no point in trying to bamboozle or manipulate a modern customer.

They would want to stay loyal to a brand that is successful in delivering all the promises that had been mentioned in the content.

Stand out in the market

High-quality content enables you to stand out from the rest of your competitors in the industry.

Simply speaking, it puts you in a position of authority.

If your website content is credible and informational, there is a good chance of gaining a higher search engine rank, which in turn attracts a higher number of customers.

Quality content also showcases your expertise in the particular field and answers the readers’ inquiries.

Thus, you appear as an industry expert which increases your brand’s trustworthiness.

New business opportunities

Besides gaining more customers, quality content might also attract new investors and business partners.

There is no need to hard sell your business products and services when high-quality content already exists on your website.

If your blog post or some other content featuring yourself or your company succeeds in creating a favorable impression, several profitable investment or partnership opportunities might arise which will help in your business growth.

Save money

There is no denying the fact that marketing is a costly process.

Besides, the money charged by freelancers or in-office full-time writers, you might have to spend way more money on digital marketing strategies such as paid searches if the content is not up to mark.

If you compare marketing methods such as traditional marketing, display advertising and content marketing, there is no better process than content marketing if you wish to garner a greater audience on a limited budget.

How to write quality content?

Now that we have a brief idea of what quality content is and the role it plays in marketing, it is important to know how to write it.

Please remember that you are writing content for the audience and not for yourself or the search engines.

You must consider what your audience would like to read about and make sure to answer and solve all their probable questions and problems regarding the topic.

Research is extremely important.

You need to devote ample amounts of time to proper research.

This not only helps in making the content informational and accurate but also builds language proficiency.

Please make sure that your content is not just informational in a bland way.

People would not prefer reading the entire article if it’s not engaging and captivating enough.

The content structure is also included in this.

There need to be proper headings and subheadings and original images.

Readability also plays a significant role.

People would not like to spend their time deciphering or decoding hard words and complicated sentences.

Moreover, quality content is credible and trustworthy.

As already mentioned before, modern buyers do not prefer hard sales that do not live up to their expectations.

Wrapping up

Thus, we can conclude that high-quality content is a principal factor that determines the success of a digital marketing campaign to a large extent.

It establishes a level of trustworthiness with your target audience and provides them with interesting and valuable information that cannot be found elsewhere.

Track the traffic and leads generated by specific content such as a blog post to ensure if it is doing well.

Lastly, please remember that in the long run, content quality overtakes quantity.